How to Dial In "I Drove All Night" by Roy Orbison - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "I Drove All Night"
Suggested rig · the original isn't documented.
Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning
Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.
On your amp, these numbers won't sound the same.
Get the settings for my ampHow the artist had their guitar configured for this take.
From King of Hearts (1992). King of Hearts is a posthumous album by American singer Roy Orbison, assembled by Jeff Lynne from various recording sessions in the years shortly before Orbison’s death. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Fender Vintera '60s Stratocaster through a Fender '65 Deluxe Reverb Reissue, the nearest rig we use for Roy Orbison's other songs, stands in. Keep the amp clean, just at the edge of breakup, and use the neck and middle pickups together. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "I Drove All Night" Tone
What guitar did Roy Orbison use on "I Drove All Night"?
The guitar on "I Drove All Night" (released 1992) isn't documented; the Fender Vintera '60s Stratocaster above gets the sound. Pickup selector: neck + middle (position 2) on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "I Drove All Night" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 2, Bass 5, Mid 5.5, Treble 6, Presence 5.5, Volume 4.5. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale; match them on your amp first, then nudge to taste. ToneMirror can translate these positions for whatever amp you actually own.
Can I play "I Drove All Night" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "I Drove All Night" tone on a Katana, a Helix, a tube combo, or anything else. The translation accounts for EQ curve, gain structure, and pickup type so the result actually sounds like the record, not just the same knob numbers on different gear.
More Tones You Can Dial In
Tone references for "I Drove All Night" by Roy Orbison are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.